Mail-Order Bride Ink: Dear Mr. Weaver (15 page)

Ebba froze. “The ceremony is in the orchard?”

“Of course, dear,” Leona said. “You knew that.”

“Yes, but how did I forget it?” One more thing she’d have to deal with. “What if I start sneezing?!”

“The kettle’s on the stove,” Ma assured her. “A spot of chamomile will help you before you go out there.”

“Sneezing?” Leona said.

“Didn’t Mary tell you?” Betsy asked. “This poor thing suffers something awful when she goes outside.”

“Oh yes, that,” Leona waved a hand at her own head. “How could I forget?” She looked at Ebba and smiled. “And you thought your memory was bad?”

“Easy enough on a day like this.” Betsy started to comb out Ebba’s hair. “Somebody find me some pins.”

“There’s some on the dresser,” Ebba informed them.

After a good amount of tugging and pulling, Aunt Betsy had Ebba’s hair swept up into a lovely style. She stood and went to study the woman’s handiwork in the mirror.

“Oh, isn’t it wonderful!” Leona said with a happy smile.

“Let’s put the veil on,” Ma suggested.

They did, and Ebba checked her reflection again. “I … I look beautiful.”

“Don’t sound so surprised, dear,” Leona said. “You
are
beautiful.”

Ebba turned to the three matrons. “Thank you ever so much for helping me get ready.” She ran a hand over the skirt of her dress, admiring it. “I had no idea I could look so nice.”

“And I bet Daniel doesn’t either,” Ma said with a conspiratorial wink. “Now what say we have ourselves a wedding?”

E
bba couldn’t recall
how she got from her room, surrounded by three matrons helping her to prepare for her wedding, to where she was now. She stood next to Daniel’s brother Arlan, one arm wrapped through his, in the middle of an orchard. The preacher from Nowhere stood at the other end, along with Daniel and his twin brothers. The people in attendance had parted to make an aisle as soon as she took Arlan’s arm.

She gulped and tried not to tremble. Or breathe too much.

“All brides are nervous on their weddin’ day,” Arlan said in a low voice. “It shouldn’t bother ya if you are too.”

“It doesn’t … bother me,” she mumbled.

“I wouldn’t hold yer breath too long if I were you. Yer face’ll turn blue.”

She sighed. “I can’t do this.”

“What do ya mean ya can’t?” he said out the corner of his mouth. “Don’t tell me ya changed yer mind?”

Ebba felt his arm tighten around hers, as if he was afraid she might bolt. “No, it’s not that. I want to marry your brother.”
Provided he doesn’t have any more secrets he’s hiding from me.
“I’m just afraid I’m going to start sneezing.”

“Didn’t Ma fix ya some tea?”

“Yes,” she said, took another short breath and held it. “But I’m worried it’s not going to work.”

He leaned toward her. “If ya don’t start breathin’ proper, yer gonna pass out.”

He had a point. She let her breath out, tried to relax … and an all-too-familiar tickle teased her nose.
No …

Suddenly, someone started playing the Wedding March on a fiddle. She glanced around to see who it was. “I didn’t know Mr. Quinn played an instrument.”

“Yer ‘bout to be married and yer wonderin’ who’s playin’?” Arlan said with a smile. “Ya really are nervous. Now hush and let me walk ya down the aisle. I fancy myself a new sister-in-law.”

Ebba took another breath and let him lead her toward her future husband. She looked at Daniel and saw his expression of awe. Ma was right – she
was
beautiful in Daniel’s eyes.

Beautiful enough to tell the truth to?
her mind asked.
Shut up
, she told it. She smiled at him, and he returned it.

Soon she and Arlan reached the end of the aisle. She stood and faced her future husband. This was it!

Arlan released her and gave her hand to Daniel. The next thing she knew, he had the other one as well, and squeezed them as they gazed at each other. “Well,” he whispered, “ya ready for this?”

Ebba smiled as her misgivings slipped away. He was handsome in his Sunday best, his hair combed, his jaw clean-shaven. He even smelled heavenly – soap and pomade. He must’ve just bathed. He could tell her almost anything now, and she’d accept it.

She smiled and continued to stare at him as the preacher began to speak. For the first time she became utterly lost in Daniel’s gaze. His eyes were locked on hers – steady, determined and seeming to reach into her very soul. She hoped he wasn’t disappointed with what he saw. Heavens, she wasn’t even sure what he’d see if he looked hard enough. She’d been so busy caring for her parents the last few years that maybe she’d lost sight of herself. Would Daniel see that if he kept looking into her eyes?

She tried to see into him, but faltered. What if she saw something she couldn’t live with before she had to recite her vows? The worries came back in force. Would it be better to live in ignorance, or know the horrible truth only when it was too late to turn back? She longed for reassurance that she was doing the right thing, that she could give this man what he needed, that he would not betray her …

“And do you, Daniel Weaver, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold …”

Ebba’s eyes widened as the preacher continued. Good heavens, were they to that part already?

The preacher stopped, and Daniel, his eyes never wavering, smiled at her. “I do.”

Good grief!
she thought.
He said it! I do!

The preacher turned to look at her, smiled and began to recite the same thing he’d said to Daniel. He’d barely finished when “Oh no!” popped out of her mouth, right before she sneezed. And not just any sneeze …

Daniel flinched and wiped at one eye. “Woo-ee, sweetie! That was a whooper!”

Ebba thought she might die. If only the veil she wore covered her face and not just the back of her head! She sneezed again. “Don’t …”
Achoo!
“… say things like that!”

“Quick,” Ma cried. “Somebody fetch the kettle!”

Charity dashed into the aisle, lifted her skirts and ran for the house.

“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Nellie Davis said. “What’s all the fuss?”

She soon found out, as Ebba kept on sneezing.

“Why, the poor thing,” said Mr. Davis. “She’s likely to sneeze herself to death if she doesn’t stop.”

“She is not going to sneeze to death, daddy,” Charlotte said. “But the poor girl shouldn’t be outside.”

“Well! I daresay she’s not going to make a very good farmer’s wife, now is she?” Nellie sneered.

“Mother, behave yourself!” Charlotte’s scolded.

Nellie turned to fire back, saw the look of annoyance on her husband’s face and decided to glare at her shoes instead.

Ebba’s fit continued. Someone was suddenly at her side, but her eyes were so watery she couldn’t tell who it was. A handkerchief was placed in her hand and she took it gratefully and blew her nose. She could hear whispers of sympathy along with a few good-natured chuckles. Thankfully, she couldn’t hear Nellie Davis anymore.

“Are you all right?” a woman asked.

“I will be …”
Achoo!
“… in a moment ….”
Achoo!
“… I hope.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“There’s …”
Achoo!
“… nothing I’m afraid.”

“Charity’s gone to fetch you a cup of tea,” Ma said.

Ebba wiped her eyes, glad they were just as affected as her nose was. It would be harder for everyone to tell that she was crying. “I’m so sorry. I’ve ruined everything.”

“We’re still gettin’ married, sweetie,” Daniel said. “All ya have to say is ‘I do’.”

“If she can with all that blowing,” Nellie added. Beside her, her husband rumbled in warning.

Ebba tried not to glare at Nellie. Her tone was full of accusation, and for the life of her she could not figure out why the woman would say such things.

“She ain’t got no disease, does she?” someone asked from the crowd.

There were sudden murmurs from the men. “Maybe Daniel oughtn’t marry her,” said another.

“What kind of fool talk is that?” Benjamin said and stepped forward as if ready to fight. “My brother’s gettin’ married today, and no amount of sneezin’s gonna stop it!”

“He’s right,” Daniel agreed. “Go ahead – blow your nose, sweetie, then say ‘I do’.”

Ebba gawked at him, looked at the handkerchief, blew her nose, then –
“Achoo!”

“My my,” Nellie said. “Now that went well, didn’t it?”

“Nellie, keep out of this!” Leona huffed.

Ebba heard Nellie laugh. It was enough to send her over the edge. She blew her nose again, squared her shoulders, looked the preacher in the eye and managed to yell “I do!” before sneezing again.

Daniel didn’t care. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “Quick, preacher! Tell me to kiss her!”

“Er … ah …” The preacher took a moment to regain his composure. “By-the-power-invested-in-me-by-Almighty-God-and-the-Washington-Territory-I-now-declare-you-man-and-wife-you-may-kiss-the-bride!”

Ebba sucked in a breath, about to sneeze again, when Daniel reached up and pinched her nose, cutting it short. He then gave her a quick kiss and let her go.

As the cheers began, she stumbled, her sneezing picking up again with a vengeance. Daniel no sooner pulled her against him than Charity came running down the aisle, a cup of tea in her hands. “Quick, drink this!”

Tears were streaming down Ebba’s face as she did her best to choke back a sob. But she could still see Nellie with that knowing smirk on her face, while the rest of the townsfolk watched with a combination of sympathy and shock. There were also a few looks of utter disgust, and deep down she knew they weren’t because of her sneezing fit. If only she knew what
did
cause them.

“There now, sweetie,” Daniel whispered against her hair. “Drink that tea down.”

She took a sip, then another. It was hard to breathe but the hot brew helped. Since her voice would betray her at this point, she didn’t say anything. Nor did she protest when Daniel picked her up in his arms and carried her back to the house. A few clapped as they passed while the rest murmured congratulations.

With one exception. Nellie Davis could be heard harrumphing, “Well, we’ll see how long this marriage lasts.”

Fresh tears stung Ebba’s eyes. Why would Nellie say such a thing?

“
T
here now
, sweetie,” Daniel said as he set her on the bed in her room.
Their
room now, she realized. “Ya’ll be all right. I’ll have Charity bring up another cup of tea.”

Ebba tried to hold the tears back but failed. “I’m so sorry!” she sobbed. “I ruined our wedding!”

Daniel, his arms still around her, chuckled. “Now, I wouldn’t say that.”

She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of one hand. “Well, I certainly would …
achoo!
… oh drat!”

“Ya go ahead and sneeze your pretty little head off if’n ya wanna. I don’t mind.”

She wiped at her face again. The handkerchief the woman had given her earlier was soaked through. “I mind.”

“‘Course ya do. You’re a woman. Womenfolk are always fussin’ about this sort of thing. Menfolk, not so much. We know there’s some things that cain’t be helped.”

Ebba swallowed hard. “Well, it’s nice …” She sniffed back more tears. “… to know that you don’t mind. But to everyone else, I’m a … ah …
achoo!
” She blew her nose. “A laughingstock!”

Daniel reached up and brushed some hair off her face. “Yer mighty pretty today, did ya know that?”

Ebba’s mouth dropped open. “How can you say that?” she asked, her voice cracking. “I’m a mess! A horrible mess!”

“Nah,” he said gently and cupped her face with one hand. “Yer my wife.” And he just as gently, kissed her.

Miracle of miracles, she didn’t sneeze. Instead, she let the sensations that simple kiss evoked engulf her. Warmth crept up her spine as his lips melded against hers. One of his arms locked around her waist, while the hand that cupped her face slid to the back of her neck. He deepened the kiss, and she moaned.

Daniel slowly lifted his face from hers. “There now,” he whispered against her lips. “That seems to work.”

“Wha?” she managed. She couldn’t move – her limbs felt like jelly.

“Ya don’t sneeze when I kiss ya,” he said matter-of-factly. “I kinda like that.”

She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open. “Oh.”

Daniel pulled her closer and tucked her head under his chin. “I think I might be what cures ya, sweetie. Ain’t that somethin’?”

Ebba felt as if she was about to fall into a deep sleep. That Daniel rubbed his hand up and down her back was part of that, and it felt wonderful.

He kissed her hair. “We’re gonna be just fine, ya and me,” he whispered before gently pulling away to look at her. “Hello, Mrs. Weaver. How ya feelin’?”

Ebba’s mouth moved, but nothing came out.

Daniel cupped her face again, lowered his lips to hers and ran his tongue over them as he tightened his arms again.

Her breathing picked up. Where her ailment had stopped, something had started in its place. What it was, she wasn’t sure, but it was definitely gaining momentum. The room was growing hot, as were a few other things, when Daniel’s tongue delved into her mouth and began to explore. It was all she could do to stay on the bed. If he hadn’t been holding her, she’d slide onto the floor in a heap!

The kiss became more demanding and Ebba didn’t know what to do. So she kissed him back – or at least hoped she did. Having never been kissed before, she had to improvise, and she was still in a state of shock besides. Not just because he was kissing her, but because she hadn’t sneezed once since he’d started. What if kissing kept her from sneezing? Wait – was that what he’d been talking about a moment ago?

Ebba’s eyes sprang open at the thought. But she was careful to not move otherwise as Daniel continued to administer the cure to everything that ailed her.

A
fter an hour
of Daniel’s miracle elixir – kissing Ebba senseless – the newlywed couple came downstairs. Her face washed and her veil straightened, Ebba strode into the parlor on her husband’s arm feeling like a new woman. The man was a miracle. Her sneezing had completely stopped, her eyes were dry, the scratch in her throat was gone. Even her voice was fine. All that from kissing? How was she ever going to explain this?

“Are you feeling better, dear?” Leona asked. “You look better.”

“I’m much better, thank you,” Ebba said.

“She’ll be fine,” Daniel informed them. “I took care of her.”

Nellie, sitting in a chair near the fireplace, glanced at the ceiling before giving them a knowing look. “I’ll just bet you did.”

Ebba saw Daniel’s eyebrows twitch at the remark, but he remained silent.

“Would you like some supper?” Leona asked Daniel. “Your mother is outside serving everyone. Let me go fetch the two of you a plate, shall I?”

“No, you sit with my wife, Mrs. Riley,” Daniel instructed. “I’ll go get Ebba something to eat.”

“Why, that’s very kind of you! Don’t mind if I do.” Leona took Ebba by the hand and led her to the settee. “Come, dear, sit next to me and we’ll make sure that sneezing of yours doesn’t get started again.”

“Are you going to make her some tea?” someone across the room asked.

Ebba and Daniel both looked to see who it was. A thin young woman stood in the doorway to the hall. She had brown hair and amber eyes, almost like a cat’s. “Hello,” Ebba said. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

The woman walked over and held out her hand. “I’m Bernice Johnson. My husband Warren is outside helping with supper.”

“Ya mean he’s outside helpin’ with the pig, don’t ya?” Daniel asked.